Online sex pest's sentence cut

He was jailed at Swindon Crown Court, but his sentence has now been reduced

AN EX-RAF man who bombarded a schoolgirl with kinky messages on Facebook had his sentence slashed by top judges. Robert McCarthy repeatedly begged for sexy pictures of the 14-year-old and made other “sexual requests” after contacting her via the social networking site, London’s Appeal Court heard.

Mr Justice Silber said: “His conversations included references to what he wanted to do to her,” adding that McCarthy fantasised about watching her flaunting herself, and having sex with her.

The offences had a “devastating” effect on his young victim, said the judge, and she was left depressed and reclusive by her ordeal. McCarthy, 33, of Thornford Drive, Westlea, Swindon, was jailed for three years and four months at Swindon Crown Court in August last year after admitting five counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

His case reached the Appeal Court as he challenged the sentence – which was cut to two years.

Mr Justice Silber, sitting with Mr Justice Globe, noted there was no sexual contact between McCarthy and his victim. Although a jail term was “called for”, the original sentence was far too long, the appeal judge concluded.